Where to start? What a Grand slam this one was, we had the 3 toughest handicaps to date for 3 of the 4 debutants in the 2nd Slam of the Winter series. We had an ultra competitive 10 round group stage, we had shocks galore, never seen before scenario’s, 4 out 7 knock-out matches go the distance and an unbelievable SIXTH different winner in SIX events.

A mild and dry 4 hours tennis feast was held this past Sunday in a rare competitive singles tournament in the second Open, of the Second ever Grand slam of Handicap singles Tennis at Walsall Tennis Club. Competitors are invited to play in 4 Grand Slam events, fighting for ranking points to be tallied up at the end to find the top 8 totals. They will then go on to compete for £60 cash prize and Grand slam champion title at the ATP finals in March.

After 74 handicap 1st to seven point sets were completed, we had a NEW ATP Ranking point’s Leader in Luke Gwalchmai, and a 3 way tie for the vital 8th qualifying place with the Wimbledon and US Opens to come. Rhiannon once again was the lone girl ranger but this time had 10 gents to trade blows with. Handicaps once again proved accurate with predictions almost impossible as everyone won at least 2 games and everyone losing at least 2 games, just 1 win separated 6 of the 11 competitors, which was insanely competitive. Once again top 8 would qualify for the knockout stages. Here are the competitors, the handicaps they played off and their results and group placings. When BOTH players had plus OR minus handicaps, starting scores were adapted so at least one player started on zero in the race to that magical 7 point target.

RHIANNON ROBINSON +2 WON 2/10 57 POINTS 10TH

LUKE GWALCHMAI +1 WON 5/10 51 POINTS 8TH as less points than Jack and Ryan

CHRIS MAGUIRE +1 WON 5/10 58 POINTS 5TH as more points than Jack and Ryan

JACK EVANS O WON 5/10 52 POINTS 7TH as lost to Ryan

GRAYSON MARLOW +1 WON 6/10 59 POINTS 4TH as less points than Tim

TIM BOLAND -1 WON 6/10 62 POINTS 3RD as more points than Grayson

CRAIG EASTWOOD -4 WON 3/10 40 POINTS 9TH

MICHAEL BOLAND +2 WON 2/10 49 POINTS 11TH

RYAN BRAZIER -7 WON 5/10 52 POINTS 6TH as beat Jack

PAUL MAGUIRE -3 WON 8/10 65 POINTS 1ST

DALLA GHUMAN -7 WON 7/10 56 POINTS 2ND

What a group, Ryan wins 1st 4, then loses focus on next 4 putting qualification into some doubt, Dalla had nightmare start losing heavily in first 2, before winning 7 out of next 8. Paul wins group with 8 wins, Grayson had a very slow start before a cracking 4th place finish, Chris 5th in a very solid campaign as Jack keeps impressing with unbelievable talent during sporadic periods of good temperament and Luke makes up the 8 qualifiers.

These results meant that the top 8 qualified for the knock out tournament, however these positions above would determine where losing quarter finalists and semi finalists would finish in relation to fellow losers. Knockout matches would be same handicaps and best of 3, first to 7 point tie breaks with handicaps being used in every set.

For the 1st time ever all 4 top seeds crash out, meaning Grayson only collects 2 points as pushed down to 8th as a result of being lowest ranked QF loser. Chris makes first ever semi with comfortable win, 8th beats 1st as Luke grinds out Paul in two close sets, Ryan comes back against Aussie champ Tim, whilst Jack hit blistering ground-strokes in the match of the day against Dalla, who’d fetched back a 7 point deficit to then go on to lose when it seemed all the hard work had been done at 2-2 in decider. All four winners guaranteed more points than their group finish.

Two more cracking 3 setters, superb days for Chris and Jack, Luke quietly advances as all eyes were on Ryan having to overturn a 7 point deficit and then a 1 set deficit. Could Luke go that 1 match further for a deserved slam victory after last month’s final agony against Tim?

FINAL

8TH LUKE v 6TH RYAN RYAN WINS 7-3 7-3 A crazy day ends with a 1 sided final, proving how unpredictable each match up can be and how playing styles can work against one player and then just not work against another. Great credit to Ryan winning off an incredibly hard -7 handicap yet proving it was the correct handicap and the best player is still capable of winning the tournament so long as they can hold it together and blank out the score pressure and play each point like they are match point down. Luke with 2 finals out of 2 is clear leader and maturing into a steady performer.

All competitors had a great time in what was the highest quality Grand Slam to date, the handicaps are there to give every possibility for close games and unpredictable results, but they can’t account for players being in top form or being totally out of sorts, or how players can react to coping with the handicaps given in pressure situations.

Remember, you can still easily qualify for the ATP finals even if you didn’t enter the Australian or French Open’s.

WIMBLEDON 1PM Sunday January 12th

US OPEN 1PM Sunday February 9th

ATP FINALS top 8 only Sunday March 2nd 1PM

Already entered for WIMBLEDON are Tim Boland and Alex Hull so a maximum of 10 places remaining, be quick to enter!!

So here are the current ATP RANKINGS

1ST LUKE GWALCHMAI 26 POINTS

2ND TIM BOLAND 19 POINTS

3RD RYAN BRAZIER 16 POINTS

4TH CHRIS MAGUIRE 14 POINTS

5TH JACK EVANS 12 POINTS

5TH PAUL MAGUIRE 12 POINTS

7TH DUDLEY WRIGHT 10 POINTS

8TH GRAYSON MARLOW 4 POINTS

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8TH DALLA GHUMAN 4 POINTS

8TH RHIANNON ROBINSON 4 POINTS

11TH CRAIG EASTWOOD 1 POINT

11TH MICHAEL BOLAND 1 POINT

11TH DAVID KHAYAT 1 POINT

Luke takes pole position, new entry Ryan takes 3rd place, while Chris leap frogs brother Paul who must be gutted after heading the 11 man group stage. 2 more chances to make the ATP finals on March 2nd.

So well done Ryan and Luke, 4 weeks to go for WIMBLEDON on JANUARY 12TH 1PM….. ENTER NOW!!!